THE HAGUE (AA) - A commemorative event was organized Wednesday in Rotterdam for Palestinian children killed in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The event was organized by the Olive Tree Planting Foundation at Binnenrotte Square, which was transformed into a somber sea of remembrance as approximately 8,000 pairs of children's shoes were laid out to symbolize the tragic toll of the conflict.
Every 10 minutes, pairs of shoes were added to the display, symbolizing the alarming frequency with which children are killed in the region.
Volunteers tirelessly worked to distribute informational brochures to passersby, shedding light on the dire situation in Gaza.
Esther van der Most, the director of Olive Tree Planting Foundation, conveyed the gravity of the situation.
"In the last 75 days, more than 8,000 children have been killed in Gaza. We collected these shoes to draw attention to how many children are being talked about. This way, people can feel something about them, and Palestinians can be seen as humans," he told Anadolu.
"We are here to mourn and commemorate the killed children, but above all, to say: 'Enough!' Stop killing Palestinian children. Stop the occupation, stop everything," he added.
The ceremony included the reading of the names and ages of thousands of children killed in Israeli attacks.
At least 8,000 children and 19,667 Palestinians, including 6,200 women, have been killed in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7. A total of 52,586 victims have been injured.